{"id":667333,"date":"2024-08-01T14:30:58","date_gmt":"2024-08-01T18:30:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hauteliving.com\/hautebeauty\/?p=667333&"},"modified":"2024-08-01T14:30:58","modified_gmt":"2024-08-01T18:30:58","slug":"liposuction-sculpting-your-body-not-a-shortcut-to-weight-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hauteliving.com\/hautebeauty\/667333\/liposuction-sculpting-your-body-not-a-shortcut-to-weight-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"Liposuction: Sculpting Your Body, Not A Shortcut To Weight Loss"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Photo Credit: Courtesy of PeopleImages.com - Yuri A\/Shutterstock<\/span><\/p>\n

Iulianna C Taritsa, BA; Kirsten A. Schuster, MD, JD; Samuel Lin, MD, FACS<\/em><\/p>\n

Liposuction<\/a><\/strong> is one of the most commonly performed procedures in body contouring. The procedure is not considered a weight loss method or an alternative to weight loss, though patients may lose two to five pounds in total. The ideal candidate for liposuction is someone who would like to reduce or remove bulges of fat that are resistant to diet and exercise.1<\/sup> Liposuction is a contouring procedure and not a weight loss procedure. Removing these localized pockets of fat can improve overall appearance and comfort in clothes if the patient finds these areas to be uncomfortable. The ideal liposuction candidate is someone within 30% of a healthy body mass index (BMI).2<\/sup> For individuals seeking to lose a large amount of weight and have not succeeded in doing so with diet and exercise alone, liposuction is likely not the best option.<\/p>\n

An individual\u2019s weight is controlled by a balance between the number of calories consumed, the proportion of calories stored, and how many an individual burns from exercise and their metabolism. Each of these factors can be a function of both genetics and environment. Genetics can play a role in metabolism (how many calories are stored over time and how quickly those calories are burned off through certain activities) and there may be some component of genetics in the foods we choose to eat. Individuals who seem to keep weight off easily may have genetically higher metabolisms or might be controlling their weight through diet and exercise habits. Studies have shown that obesity may have a large heritable component, with estimates of genetic heritability between 40% and 70%.3<\/sup>,<\/sup>4<\/sup><\/p>\n

While losing weight is hard, the bigger challenge is often keeping the pounds off. As weight gain is based on the balance between energy use and energy intake, weight loss maintenance \u2013 like the initial weight loss - is often based dependent on diet and exercise.5<\/sup> With regard to exercise, studies show benefits of 200 to 300 minutes (about 5 hours) of moderate-intensity physical activity per week.6<\/sup> Recommendations regarding diet are less universal. Despite an ever-rotating\u00a0media promotion\u00a0of different diet strategies including macronutrient-based\u00a0options\u00a0(e.g. Atkin\u2019s, ketogenic variations) and intermittent fasting, however, no specific diets have been shown to produce superior benefits in weight maintenance after one year. Instead, consistent, low-calorie meals \u2013 especially breakfast \u2013 with a variety of foods may be key to minimizing the body\u2019s physiological adaptations that resist weight loss.5,7<\/sup><\/p>\n

While there is no single best strategy for weight management, here are a few tips and tricks that may help curb weight gain:<\/p>\n